Many charitable foundations in Malaysia were established by rich businessmen in the 1970s. They include prominent ones like the Lee Rubber Foundation (established by the late Tan Sri Lee Kong Chian), Kuok Foundation (established by Robert Kuok Hock Nien), Tan Sri Lee Loy Seng Foundation (established by the late Tan Sri Lee Loy Seng) and Syed Kechik Foundation (established by Tan Sri Syed Kechik). The foundations set up by new generation of rich Malaysians includes Yayasan Albukhary (established by Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar), The Malaysian Community and Education Fund, Harapan Nusantara Fund and Yu Cai Foundation (established by Tan Sri T. Ananda Krishnan), Yayasan Pok Rafeah and Yayasan Haji Zainuddin (established by Tun Daim Zainuddin) and Hope Foundation (established by Tan Sri Dr. Khoo Kay Peng).
The funds of private foundations are distributed to both solicited and unsolicited applications although solicited requests are given preference. The annual grants to programs varies and are none specific. However, there are some specific ranges for certain foundations or funding especially for higher education i.e. scholarships and loans. The private funding for education has always aligned funding to each recipient in parallel to government funding.
For the causes of social funding, it is less systematic in the amount for applications. It is very much depending on circumstances and based on a case-by-case basis; subject to the need requested and approval from the funding committee. Thus, there is not a standard quantifying amount for every application or request. It may be given to a few large donees or many small donees and vice versa; and differed from year to year.
Most of the foundations are funding for the cause of development i.e. education, charity, relief aid etc. These can further be translated into a more specific area listed by the Malaysian Business on 16 September 2005. Research carried out by the Malaysian Business listed the top three causes or activities that are most common and attracted by the foundations are education (consists of 50% of total causes), orphanages, and sports.
The foundations generally do not limit their funding to domestic requests within the country as donations have also been channelled to international community, donating funds beyond Malaysia for good causes - helping during the natural disasters, political conflicts etc. However, for education funding most funding is provided to Malaysians, who pursue studies in Malaysian institutions. In exceptional circumstances Malaysian foundations sponsor higher studies overseas. Applications for higher education funding are opened annually in conjunction with the intakes of universities or higher education institutions. Forms are normally made available at bursary of colleges or universities and also can be obtained directly from the foundations.
There are also government funded and state specific foundations. As expected, these government and state based foundations have always played a crucial role in providing important resources to the community.
Few famous foundations in Malaysia currently are: (please make hotlink/drop-down with information of respective foundation starting in p. 4.
- Usaha Tegas Group (Harapan Nusantara, Yu Cai, Malaysian Community and Education Fund)
- Yayasan Albukhary
- Torch Fund
- SP Setia Foundation
- Hong Leong Foundation
- Nanyang Press Foundation
- Lim Foundation
- Datuk Chiew Swee Peow Chinese Education Trust Fund
- Yayasan Bursa Malaysia
- Lim Fong Sheng Education Fund
Besides the private foundations mentioned above, Malaysian corporate and companies are also involved in giving as part of their corporate social responsibility. From the research carried out by Norsyida Abdul Rahim on top 200 public listed companies (based on their turnover), 65 companies were found to have donated about 82.1 million Ringgit Malaysia to various charitable societies, programmes, orphanages and the poor between July 2003 and December 2004. The top three donors have given RM30.5 million or 34.3% of the total contributions; and the top ten donors consist of 80% of the contributions.
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